So yesterday the NY Times published some statistics on Americans in prison, and the numbers are particularly depressing for blacks. 1 in 15 are in prison, and 1 in 9 (!) between the ages of 20-34.
This is compared to latinos living la vida loca at a 1 in 36 rate. No word on whether whites actually get sent to prison or are simply sentenced to watching The Wire for a few days.
This report raises a constant debate TAN2 and I have about the state of blacks (usually we specify about black men) and whether we're trending up or trending down. In general I feel we're trending up, I point to Obama, more celebrities/rich black people, and the last white girl I slept with as positive signs of our growth. He points to statistics like the ones in this report as an equally effective counter-argument.
In truth I don't think either of us are wrong, but when reasoned this way it brings up a Quality vs. Quantity argument (something I'll probably raise tonight during The White House) and it essentially boils down to a formula: How many blacks in jail = 1 Obama? Or Oprah? Or Jay-Z?
10? 100? 100K? Is Obama priceless? In which case maybe we can just write-off all the imprisoned negroes on our (err, your) AMEX? Will our celebrity negroes serve as beacons of hope that eventually free us all from the system? Or are they red (err, black) herrings, superficial icing on a cake of gloom and doom?
I don't know, but if we can get a bead on that equation I suspect we'll be able to figure out how much weed we need to smoke and alcohol we need to drink to get our mind on our money and our money on our minds.
(I don't know if that last part makes sense, but I'm just ecstatic over not being in prison. Yay!)
1 in 100 Americans in jail [NY Times]
Friday, February 29, 2008
How Many Blacks In Jail = One Obama?
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13 comments:
Really, the answer is none. 1 Obama is not comparable to any number of black in jail, if you look at the other characteristics of the two groups. The black men in jail grow up in poor neighborhoods, barely graduate high school, and don't have college degrees, let alone a law degree from Harvard. The answer is a growing divide within the black community, with the gains of the civil rights movement going to a privileged few while the rest continue to languish behind...
Yay, not in prison!!
It makes me furious, the injustice of it all. I work with homeless adults, and again and again and again, I see mens' lives ruined because they pled to a felony that anyone with the money for a decent lawyer could have easily gotten out of. Often they don't even do jail time, or minimal jail time, and almost always, the final charge is "felony possession of a controlled substance" or other garbage.
Our society needs to stop this ridiculous war on drugs and start leveling the playing field a whole lot faster.
agree with gradmommy. even 1 to 1 is too many
"I point to Obama, more celebrities/rich black people, and the last white girl I slept with as positive signs of our growth..."
I am not saying your post doesn't have its breezy merits, but
this is the problem, 1. your view (presumably shared by AN TAN readers) of progress as= bedding any consenting white woman or interviewing her about her compelling virginity while neglecting the educated ladies in your own camp means there are few black families with stability (i.e. men invested in them) and this afflicts even 2. the individual rich black people allowed on television who are indeed black herrings, superficial icing on a cake of gloom and doom the enormous size of which few TAN people notice Everyone else knows that no one knows what to do with the average black guy besides make him into a rapper or an overpaid sports star who could never realize that what he should do is take his paycheck and send himself, wife or hottie and children to boarding school in Switzerland. Everything hinges on what is to become of the un-assimilable black man. If we let him speak his tastes freely like you (MLK's I ain't a n*gg*r tonight!) then we see that blackness is a visual illusion leading to a white v*****a so there are no black people to save.
The reason people are in prison is because they commit crimes. Black, white, who cares. If I get robbed I'm not going to care if the robber was black or white. I just want him in jail. The black guys in prison are not there by accident, they did something to get there just like the white guys in prison. Shame on you guys for turning this into a race issue. no one forces people to do drugs or commit crimes, color doesn't matter.
I can understand the inequalities of the poor leading to no education and a life of crime, but that principle also applies to poor whites and hispanics. "The system" only represents the laws created by it's leaders, who mostly happen to be white by population and socio-economics (rich people run for office). No matter who writes them, rule of law must apply. I don't care what color your skin is. If you break the law you should be punished, especially violent crime. African americans need to acknowledge the existance of individual resposibility and the freedon of choice. Rich white people do not make poor black people commit crimes. I concede that the lack of education, single parent homes with absentee fathers, and a failed drug policy greatly contribute to children turning to the streets and consequently prison, but the african american community needs to take responsibility for itself and stop asking for handouts without accountability. I give zero "props" for being a hip-hop clad banger whose down and representin'not snitchin'. That's all complete bullshit! Maybe if african american youth did not idolize a the prison-based culture of gansta rap, more children would have aspirations for something greater than Tupac and thug life. I know art imitates life, but crime is not life.
the reason blacks are so far behind is because your barometer for success is based on who you last had sex with and celebrities.
Funny, I think thats the same value system of a 16 year old girl.
And you wonder why you're not trending up.
The real reason blacks are so far behind is there barometer for success is watermelon and chicken! Give me a whip a field and 100 blacks and il make them work.
I typed in Google: "how many black men are in jail" ... and it brought me to this site. I consider this to be a part of my first research project. All I want to know is: 1) Are there any companies out there or programs waiting for the black men being released when their time is up? and if so - who are these companies or names of these programs? 2) Is it possible for us (the people) to legalize drugs for those who need it, want it - full-time, part-time or just enough to be weaned off of it? 3) For you weed heads and sellers - it is possible for me to come up with a plan to create jobs that will provide more money than anyone could make selling drugs...when this happens, will you refer those people to me and will you promise to get on board? 4) IF you HAVE to have drugs - will you make it a priority to contact me so we can do our best efforts to legalize it? IT'S TIME FOR PAYBACK. We KNOW why the drugs end up in our neighborhood (blacks). I see a future of hope - they will leave jail and step into the limelight. The babies will grow up to see clean streets - and our weed heads and sellers will be happy. Time for the police, the crooked legal system and the pharmaceutical companies and hospitals to find another way to make their money. Hit me up with your thoughs - I will continue my research project until everyone in the world see the turnaround - I could give a s--t why black men are in jail at this point. Those who don't belong there will get out - money talks right? Don't care if you're black or white? We'll see...We'll get it (money) - AND when they get out??? and all of the others who DID do crime -- when they get out? Something beautiful will be waiting for you - this is your life - and your life is what you make it. Somebody cares. There's more of us that care than you think...don't matter what the polls or the surveys say...Email me: OneChanceEICC@aol.com.
You want to know what the prisons are filled with 80% blacks and why 1-15 blacks are in prison??? ITS FUCKING SIMPLE!!! BLACKS COMMIT MORE FUCKING CRIMES THAN EVERY OTHER NATIONALITY!!!! NO STUPIF CONSIPRACIES, NO RACEISEM INVOVLED!!! You want to get black people out of prison, start spreading the word that doing drugs, pimpin bitches and running the streets is good. How about we write rap sounds where the guy gos to school, gets job and doesn’t get on welfare uh? How about you all start talking about how gangs members are dumb fucks. How about you spread the word that we need to care about others rather than just ourselves and grow a conscience.
12.7% of the US is black
80% of the US prison populations are filled with blacks
1-15 blacks are in prison and are going to prison (This doesn’t count jail and hasn’t been caught yet)
50% blacks are on welfare!!!!!!
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WHITE MAN, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SLAVERY THAT HAPPEND HUNDREADS OF YEARS AGO!!!!
White, black, tan whatever color you are doesn’t matter, we are all biologically the same and have the same possibilities in life. What is differs is our cultures. Unfortunately being a criminal and living in the geto in black culture is accepted and considered to be the popular and hip lifestyle, this is unacceptable.
dude,
change the background color to non-black on white lettering. It's the worst reading i've ever had to endure. Good article, but jesus christ, my eyes hate you right now.
regards,
platan0
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